Wed Jan 29 18:28:55 IST 2025: ## Trump White House Opens Doors to TikTokers, Podcasters in Press Corps Shake-Up
**Washington D.C.** – In a move to broaden access to the White House press briefing room and bypass traditional media outlets, President Donald Trump’s new press secretary, Karoline Leavitt, announced Tuesday that TikTok creators, podcasters, and other new media personalities will be eligible for press credentials.
Leavitt, the youngest press secretary in history, declared a dedicated seat at the front of the already crowded briefing room will be reserved for these new voices. This comes after President Trump repeatedly criticized mainstream media outlets, while simultaneously praising the role of podcast appearances in his successful return to the White House.
While some news organizations had anticipated more drastic changes following comments from Donald Trump Jr. about opening up the press room, the addition of a single seat represents a more modest shift. The White House Correspondents Association, representing established news organizations like AFP, continues to hold its allocated seats. Reporters without assigned seats will still be allowed to stand at the back, space permitting.
Leavitt, in her first White House briefing, also vowed to hold journalists accountable for what she termed “lies” spread by legacy media about President Trump and his family. She has primarily engaged with conservative outlets like Fox News since Trump’s inauguration. The President himself largely eschewed interviews with major networks during his campaign, favoring appearances on right-wing podcasts, notably the Joe Rogan Experience. The move to incorporate new media voices reflects a broader strategy by the Trump administration to engage directly with audiences outside the traditional media landscape.
First Piper 